IPSC pickett : Boycott Israeli Potatoes : TESCO Drumcondra

dublin | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Thursday August 30, 2007 14:03

by Garry - IPSC

IPSC activists continued their boycott Israeli potatoes campaign with a picket outside TESCO Drumcondra, who continue to stock Israeli potatoes and other goods.

Support Palestinian Human Rights, Boycott Israeli Potatoes

10 activists from the IPSC staged a two hour picket outside SuperValu on Aston Quay. They distributed 500 leaflets informing consumers about the presence of Israeli spuds on Irish shelves and asked shoppers to consider boycotting these potatoes and other Israeli produce in an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people and as a method of exerting pressure on the Israeli State to end its human rights abuses in, and brutal occupation of, the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

We think of the common potato as being part of Irish history. We may imagine that all potatoes sold in Irish shops are grown in Ireland. However, many Irish shops and supermarkets, including Dunnes Stores, Tesco and Marks & Spencer sell Israeli Potatoes, rather than Irish spuds. The profits from, and taxes imposed on, these goods help Israel to maintain and expand its 40-year old illegal occupation of Palestine. For example, the largest exporter of fruit and veg, Carmel-Agrexco, is half owned by the Israeli State.

On top of this, often the potatoes are grown by illegal settlers using stolen Palestinian water - many precious West Bank water aquifers are under Israeli military control with Israel deciding who gets the water, and when. Israeli settlements in the West Bank never face water shortages while it is an all too common feature for Palestinains despite water coming from exactly the same sources.

To add insult to injury - along with orchards and olive groves - Palestinian arable agricultural lands are often targets of destruction by both the Israeli military and illegal settlers. In addition those Palestinians trying to export perishable good regularly face obstacles and/or the destruction of their produce by the occupation forces.

Almost all 'organic potatoes' on sale in Irish supermarkets at this time of year are from Israel and the IPSC asks you - as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people - not to purchase them and to complain to the management about their continued presence on Irish shelves. You should also be on the look out for out of season New Potatoes which are also usually of Israeli origin.

In South Africa, an international boycott played a significant role in ending apartheid. You can help defeat the brutal apartheid system that Israel is imposing on the Palestinians.

If there's a store in your area stocking Israeli goods, and you'd like to organise an action in your local area, email supportpalestine@ireland.com, and we can bring the boycott to your area. IPSC activists are willing to come and help out, providing placards, leaflets and volunteers.